"I wonder if Yukino misses me. Let's give her a little surprise."
Yukinoshita Haruno.
The eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family. Yukino's older sister.
She bore a striking resemblance to Yukino with her youthful and beautiful features, but her figure was far more curvaceous.
Unlike Yukino's reserved nature, Haruno exuded charm and confidence. While Yukino wore her signature long black hair, Haruno had short hair that enhanced her allure.
Her favorite pastime? Yukino.
Teasing her younger sister was her hobby, a devilish streak in her personality.
At this moment, a mischievous smile curved Haruno's lips as she prepared to "ambush" her sister at her rented apartment tonight.
Ding!
The elevator came to a stop.
The doors slid open, and Haruno stepped out, her high heels clicking against the floor.
At the same time, a young man in a black hoodie entered the elevator.
As they brushed past each other, something stirred in her, prompting her to turn back.
Through the narrowing gap of the closing elevator doors, she caught sight of a pair of clear golden eyes, deep in thought.
Thump!
Her heart skipped a beat as long-forgotten memories flooded back.
Those golden eyes—how could she ever forget?
But the eyes she remembered were tinged with an unfathomable melancholy.
The elevator doors shut completely, and it began descending.
Absentmindedly, Haruno ran her fingers through her short hair.
"It was after that time that I cut my hair short."
Memories she shouldn't have recalled resurfaced.
"It must have been my imagination."
She told herself it was just a coincidence. After all, it was only a pair of unusual eyes. How could it possibly be the same person?
Her rationalization fooled no one, not even herself.
She wanted to turn back and look again, but she lacked the courage.
Her delicate fist tightened, then slowly loosened.
Steadying her emotions, she donned the practiced mask of her radiant smile and headed toward Yukino's room.
"We can never meet again."
Ding dong!
Click!
"Sister?"
…
Yukino opened the door, only to find the person who always left her feeling conflicted—her contradictory older sister.
"Hi! Did my little Yukino miss her big sister?"
Haruno waved gently, tilting her head with a beaming smile.
"No."
Yukino's cold response was short and direct before she turned back inside.
Haruno's grin widened as if she'd expected nothing less.
After slipping off her shoes and closing the door, she stepped in like she owned the place. Sprawling lazily on the sofa, she noticed a cup of tea on the table and picked it up to take a sip.
But before the tea touched her lips, Yukino rushed over and stopped her hand.
"What are you doing?!"
"Hmm? Drinking tea?"
Haruno blinked innocently, her large, glistening eyes staring back at Yukino.
"Don't worry. You're my little sister; how could I ever hold anything against you?"
With that, Haruno raised the teacup again.
"No."
Yukino firmly snatched it away, heading to the kitchen to dump the tea and wash the cup.
"?"
Haruno was dumbfounded.
What was going on? She'd used Yukino's cups before, but Yukino had never reacted like this.
Then, as if piecing together a puzzle, Haruno's sharp gaze fell on the table.
There was another cup of tea there.
Two cups of tea.
One was Yukino's.
The other… clearly wasn't meant for her.
"…"
Haruno sat up straight, her expression shifting into one of suspicion.
As a protective older sister with an obsession for her little sibling, Haruno's instincts immediately picked up on something amiss.
She began scanning the room.
The bathroom door had noticeable water stains nearby—something meticulous Yukino would never usually allow.
A cup of tea clearly meant for someone else, yet Yukino reacted so strongly.
The tea was still warm.
The bathroom door was damp.
And Yukino's hair carried a faint, freshly bathed fragrance.
Yukino had just finished showering.
But apart from Yukino herself… someone else had been here!
Someone had used that cup of tea.
And it had to have been very recently!
This realization stunned Haruno.
Her seemingly strong yet emotionally fragile little sister had brought someone home, and it had happened while she was taking a shower!
This was highly unusual!
And could that person… possibly be a man?!
As her thoughts spiraled, Haruno felt an overwhelming urge to uncover the truth immediately.
When Yukino returned with a freshly poured cup of tea, Haruno's expression shifted seamlessly into a composed smile, hiding her inner turmoil.
She took a small sip, then spoke with an air of casualness, "Yukino, you're a second-year in high school now."
"What about it?"
Yukino sipped her tea with her usual calm elegance.
"Have you been acting like other girls and secretly dating?"
Her tone then shifted dramatically, as though delivering a stern warning:
"You know Mother wouldn't approve of that."
"…"
For a moment, Yukino froze, her body stiffening slightly. But she quickly composed herself, responding flatly, "That's a childish question. I'm not interested in early romance."
Haruno's serious expression quickly melted into her signature radiant smile.
"Is that so? Well, that's good, then."
However, a glint of sharpness flashed in her narrowed eyes.
Every subtle movement of Yukino's had been observed.
Haruno was now certain—Yukino's composure had wavered.
A man had been here.
Ah, it seems my precious little sister has caught someone's attention. I absolutely cannot allow this....
...
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